Search form

Search this site

Search for

Apple Watch Series 4: Rumors, Release Date & Features

By Leanne Hayson Thu, 05/10/2018

Apple's revenues from its Other Products category (which basically includes every piece of hardware it sells that is not an iPhone, iPad, or Mac) just keep increasing, growing by 38 percent year over year in the second quarter of 2018. The Apple Watch is believed to comprise a large portion of that revenue, so it makes sense that many expect Apple to announce an Apple Watch Series 4 within the year. But when specifically is a new Apple Watch most likely to be released? What features might distinguish a new watch from previous iterations? Let's discuss all the clues and rumors surrounding the Apple Watch Series 4!

Master your iPhone in one minute a day:

Sign up to iPhone Life's Tip of the Day Newsletter and we'll send you a tip each day to save time and get the most out of your iPhone or iPad.

When Will the Apple Watch Series 4 Be Released?

Apple has released a smartwatch every year since 2015, so it's reasonable to assume that 2018 will be no different. For the last three years, Apple has announced the new Apple Watch version at its annual September event, so we're predicting that September 2018 will follow the trend and bring an Apple Watch Series 4 reveal.

New Apple Watch Design Rumors

Larger Display?

According to the rumor mill, Apple is increasing display sizes on the 2018 crop of iPhones, iPad Pros, and also, it seems, for the newest Apple Watch. As reported in 9to5Mac, Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities predicts that the Apple Watch display will be enlarged by as much as 15 percent over the former 38 or 42 mm size offerings of previous smartwatches. This estimate would bring the Apple Watch 4 display sizes up to a choice between 43.7 mm or 48.3 mm; I'm going to guess designers will go for nice round numbers and offer a 44 mm or a 48 mm display on the series 4. The increase in screen size could come as a result of a decrease in bezel size, as with the iPhone X, an enlargement of the watch body, or a combination of both.

Display Shape

Up until now, the Apple Watch face has been a rectangle with rounded corners; will the Apple Watch 4 break the mold? Ming-Chi Kuo also predicts that Apple will renovate the watch face to a "more trendy form factor design." Does this mean the Apple Watch 4 will feature a round face? Or maybe more of a rounded square? Only Apple knows, for now, but my guess is that Apple will stick to a square or rectangular watch face to prevent text crowding at the center of a rounded screen.

Smart Band?

Image Credit: Apple Insider

Last year MacRumors reported that Apple had been granted a patent for a "modular functional band links for wearable devices" for the Apple Watch. The band gets around the chassis-size issue by incorporating watch components into the band itself. Some of the possibilities for the band's functionality include more biometric sensors, haptic feedback devices, speakers, and extra batteries or kinetic power generators. My favorite idea out of all of these is the kinetic power generation theory; what a great way to extend the time between charges!

Improved Capabilities

The Apple Watch Series 3 features a dual-core processor that's up to 70 percent faster than that of the Series 2, while a W2 chip gives the watch 50 percent more battery efficiency for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Both of these features add almost no bulk to the watch chassis, making it almost identical in size to the Apple Watch 2. So what improvements can we expect to see with the Apple Watch 4?

A Faster Processor for the Apple Watch 4?

Will there be a new CPU and faster graphics performance for the Apple Watch 4? If so, Apple will need to roll out a W3 chip for the Apple Watch this year.

Apple Watch Battery Life

Apple Watch owners have long desired improvements in battery life so the device can be utilized for overnight sleep monitoring as well as daytime health and fitness tracking. The series 2 and 3 Apple Watch both feature an 18–hour battery life, even with workouts; so will the Series 4 make it to 24 hours? If the power-generating modular band is a reality, it's entirely possible.

An Apple Watch that Truly Operates Independently of an iPhone?

Apple rolled out a cellular option for last year's smartwatch, but the Cellular Apple Watch 3 still needs to be paired with an iPhone in order set it up, update watchOS, and fully access all the functions. As well, not all of the watch's LTE features can function truly independantly of the iPhone. Will the cellular Apple Watch 4 be the first watch to function independently of an iPhone? This rumor seems like it may be wishful thinking; but if it is true, I'll be buying one for my daughter next year!

New Health Monitoring Capabilities?

One of the most exciting applications for Apple's smartwatch technology is the variety of health-monitoring capabilities offered by the device. The heart rate monitor, for example, can be used to monitor for atrial fibrillation (AFib,) a leading cause of stroke. Since AFib often goes unnoticed, approximately 130,000 people die from this condition every year. Luckily, the Apple Watch can warn wearers of the abnormal heart rhythm so they can get help in time, making it literally a life-saving technology. Heart health isn't the only area of medicine that the Apple Watch is contributing to, though. Apple's ResearchKit and CareKit platforms offer support to more than 500 researchers engaged in ground-breaking medical studies, and many of those studies utilize the Apple Watch for data collection. So how will the Apple Watch 4 expand on medical data collection? Most likely with a combination of hardeware and software upgrades.

DeepHeart, an Apple Watch App that collects and translates various health data including heart rate and step count, can currently detect diabetes 85 percent of the time, as well as high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol with similar degrees of accuracy. High on the wish list for Apple Watch app developers and medical researchers would be even more health monitoring capabilities, including non-invasive blood glucose level collection, continuous ECG monitoring capabilities, a respiration rate monitor, and a blood-oxygen-level monitor. Will any of these capabilities be rolled out with the Apple Watch 4, possibly in conjunction with watchOS 5? We'll have to wait and see.

A Truly Waterproof Apple Watch?

The Apple Watch Series 3 is water resistant up to 50 meters, or 164 feet. This means you can swim or snorkel with the smart watch, but not do deeper-water activities like scuba diving. The watch is also designed to handle light splashing, but not heavy-velocity spray from activities like water skiing. So, will these capabilities change with the Apple Watch 4? Can we expect a device that can stand up to every kind of water sport, or is that a feature for a future version of the Apple Watch?

What Do You Think?

What features do you expect or wish to seen in an Apple Watch Series 4? Let me know in the comments!

Master your iPhone in one minute a day: Sign up here to get our FREE Tip of the Day delivered right to your inbox.

Leanne Hays is a Feature Web Writer at iPhone Life. She loves reading and blogging, and is never without a book in her purse or an audiobook on her phone. Short-term goals include finishing painting her house and starting an aquaponics farm, long-term goals include a bike tour of Italy and writing a novel.

Seamlessly set up and manage all of your Apple devices with Jamf Now. This cloud-based mobile device management software allows you to remotely configure (everything from Wi-Fi settings to email accounts) all of the iPads, iPhone, and Mac computers at work. But it doesn’t stop with setup. Use Jamf Now to maintain your team’s productivity, whether it be adding apps for a smoother workflow or protecting the security of important devices your team needs and uses every day. With Jamf Now, one person can do in a day what would take a small team of people a week. Set up, manage, and protect all of your Apple devices with Jamf Now; get started for free today.

Protect your iPad Pro from drops, dings, and scratches with the Otterbox Symmetry Series Clear Case, available for both the 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The case is ultra protective and pops right onto your iPad. It has a removable spine so you can easily attach your Smart Keyboard or Smart Cover, plus it has a holder for your Apple Pencil. This screenless design offers direct display access, but the case still offers 360-degree protection thanks to the bumper design. With its lifetime warranty and Otterbox’s stunning reputation, you’re sure to be delighted with the Symmetry Series Clear Case.